Understanding the connections between compost, soil health and clean water

Throughout the Soil Builders program, we've been talking about the connections between compost, soil health, and water quality; different kinds of compost; and best management practices based on different applications.

Now that we know there are different composts for different "jobs" - where do we source the compost and engineered soils needed? Are they available locally? Regionally?

Joined by Mike Carignan or Agresource, Andrew Carpenter of Northern Tilth, Chuck Duprey of Naturcycle and Heather Voisin on VTrans, we

• Recapped of Soil Builders program,

• Provided an overview of what types of compost & compost-based products are available and how to test material, from the source & in the field, and

• Began to identify the missing piece when it comes to increasing use of compost & compost-based products.

This webinar, organized in partnership Friends of Northern Lake Champlain and Franklin County Natural Resources Conservation District, features presentations from Deb Neher (UVM) and Brian Jerose (Agrilab Technologies Inc.).

Listen in as we explore the connections between soil health and water quality, and best management practices for erosion control and revegetation in yards, fields, on banks and hillsides, and in road-side ditches.

Video time stamps:

• 0:00-5:06 Introduction to Soil Builders Program (Natasha Duarte)

• 5:06-21:13 Linkages between soil health and water quality (Deb Neher):

• 21:13-1:02:15 Impacts of land use on watershed function and what can be done (Brian Jerose)

• 1:02:15-1:06:10 Comments from Kent Henderson and Lauren Weston

• 1:06:10-1:29:10 Discussion

Learn more about watershed groups in Vermont:

• Watersheds United Vermont

• Find a watershed group near you

More about Natural Resources Conservation Districts in Vermont

Vermont’s 14 Natural Resources Conservation Districts (NRCDs) act as local facilitators linking and providing landowners and agricultural producers with technical, financial, and educational assistance for working with state and federal programs that can help them meet with management and conservation objectives. NRCDs coordinate agricultural and natural resource management projects, and conduct workshops providing educational information on many related topics. NRCD assistance is available to all landowners at no cost. 

• Find your local Natural Resources Conservation District here to learn more and receive assistance

• Follow them on social media:

  • https://www.facebook.com/vtconservation/

  • https://twitter.com/vtconservation

  • https://www.instagram.com/vtconservation/

• Learn about their recent work

• Watch the documentary: A Day in the Life of a Natural Resource Conservation District by Peter Danforth of Lamoille County NRCD

In this webinar, with Deb Neher from the Plant and Soil Science Department at UVM, you'll learn how to manage water infiltration and nutrient availability with compost, why organic matter in compost improves aggregate structure and reduces erosion, and hear about examples of using compost to manage soil borne pathogens of plants.

Video time stamps:

• 0:00-2:56 Introduction to Soil Builders Program (Natasha Duarte)

• 2:56-1:06:13 Compost for Soil Function & Disease Suppression (Deb Neher)

• 1:06:13-1:25:50 Q&A

Resources shared:

• The Composting Handbook, Eds. Robert Rynk, Ginny Black, Jane Gilbert, Johannes Biala, Jean Bonhotal, Mary Schwarz & Leslie Cooperband (2021); Neher, D.A. and Hoitink, H.A. 2021. Compost use for plant disease suppression. Chapter 17

• Three books by Jeff Lowenfels:

  • Teaming with Microbes

  • Teaming with Nutrients

  • Teaming with Fungi

In this Module, Kris Stepenuck (UVM, Lake Champlain Sea Grant) and Jack Eaton (Filtrexx) talk about how lawn care can impact water quality in the Lake Champlain Basin; why and how to test your soil, and what the results mean'; and when, how and why to topdress lawns with compost.

Video time stamps:

• 0:00-4:07 Introduction to Soil Builders Program (Natasha Duarte)

• 4:07-22:11 Lawn to Lake program, including Raise the Blade and Don’t “P” on Your Lawn (Kris Stepenuck)

• 22:11-50:32 Soil testing, top dressing and other healthy lawn tips (Jack Eaton)

• 50:32-1:06:07 Discussion

In this Module, Chuck Duprey (Naturcycle) presents specifications and best management practices for landscape architects.

Video time stamps:

• 0:00-3:39 Introduction to Soil Builders Program (Natasha Duarte)

• 3:39-1:01:30 Specifications and best management practices for landscape architects (Chuck Duprey)

• 1:01-30-1:05:02 Q&A

Building on the CAV Soil Builders dive into compost-based Best Management Practices (BMPs) for erosion prevention and sediment control, Chuck Duprey walks us through the NY Erosion Control Specification.

Resource shared:

• Compost Special Specification discussed

In this Soil Builders Module, Chuck Duprey (Naturcycle) and Brian Jerose (Agrilab Technologies Inc.) talk about best management practices (BPMs) for using compost in landscaping and athletic fields, direct erosion control in construction or roadside projects, low nutrient applications, and agriculture.

Video time stamps:

• 0:00-2:30 Introduction to the Soil Builders program (Natasha Duarte)

• 2:30-9:05 Introduction to BMPs for compost/compost-based products (Chuck Duprey)

• 9:05-42:15 BMPs in Landscaping and Athletic Fields (Chuck Duprey)

• 42:15-1:04:30 BMPs for Erosion Control (Chuck Duprey)

• 1:04:30-1:16:20 BMPs for Low Nutrient Applications (Chuck Duprey)

• 1:16:20-1:34:07 BMPs for Agricultural Applications (Brian Jerose)

• 1:34:07-1:44:35 Wrap up and Q&A (Natasha Duarte)

Resources shared:

• Slide deck from the webinar (pdf)

In this module of the Soil Builders program, Elly Ventura (formerly with Lamoille Regional Solid Waste Management District) and Natasha Duarte (Composting Association of Vermont) talk about the drivers for clean water & healthy soils, and how compost can support these goals.

Video time stamps:

• 0:00-3:00 Introduction (Natasha Duarte)

• 3:00-11:10 Background (Elly Ventura)

• 11:10-17:15 Vermont Initiatives (Natasha Duarte)

• 17:15-22:35 The Compost Connection (Elly Ventura)

• 22:35-23:21 Conclusion (Natasha Duarte)

Resources shared:

• Slide deck from the webinar (pdf)

• More about Greenhouse Gases

• Recycling, Waste Characterization, Food Waste:

  • US Recycling Rates

  • 2018 Vermont Waste Characterization Report

  • EPA Facts and Figures on Materials, Wastes and Recycling

• Food Waste:

  • The Financial Cost of Food Waste

  • 2030 Food Loss and Waste Reduction Goal

  • ScrapFoodWaste.org

• Organics Diversion/Composting:

• Vermont Universal Recycling Law (Act 148)

• Compost Impacts More than you Think (ILSR Infographic)

• Vermont Clean Water Initiative/Act 64

• VT ANR/DEC Clean Water Initiative

• Program Overview

• Lake Champlain Basin Program

• Lake Champlain, TMDL Implementation Plan

• VT Stormwater Management Manual (2017)

• VT Municipal Roads Program

• VT Required Agricultural Practices

In this Soil Builders Module, Marc Companion (Lake Champlain Sea Grant) and Athena Lee Bradley (Organics Consultant) explore the connections between soil health and water quality.

Video time stamps:

• 0:00-3:56 Introduction (Natasha Duarte)

• 3:56-19:16 Stormwater, Healthy Ecosystems & Soil (Marc Companion)

• 19:16-34:45 Compost, Soil Health & Water Quality (Athena Lee Bradley)

• 34:45-38:16 Compost-based Best Management Practices (Natasha Duarte)

• 38:16-55:51 Q&A

Resources shared:

• Slide deck from webinar (pdf)

• Soil Health: Soil Physical Properties video from Penn State Extension (shown during the webinar)

• Lake Champlain Basin Program

• Soil Health Institute

• US Composting Council

• Cornell Cooperative Extension of Tompkins County

• Cornell Waste Management Institute

Throughout the Soil Builders program, we've been talking about the connections between compost, soil health, and water quality; different kinds of compost; and best management practices based on different applications. Now that we better understand the benefits, how do we get compost- and soil health-based projects off the ground? This VORS 2022 session was a facilitated discussion about making healthy soil a priority in your community.

Presenter/facilitator: Natasha Duarte

Video time stamps:

• 00:00 Introduction

• 02:08 Overview of CAV's Soil Builders Education in Action Program

• 09:49 Discussion

Shared resources:

• CAV’s Soil Builders Program - recorded sessions and related materials developed and linked to through this project

• USCC Test Methods for the Examination of Compost and Composting (TMECC)

• USCC Seal of Testing Assurance (STA) Program for Compost Manufacturers

• Using STA Certified Compost

Building on a March 2021 CAV Soil Builders webinar with Chuck Duprey (Naturcycle) and Brian Jerose (Agrilab Technologies Inc.), we take a deeper dive into compost-based Best Management Practices (BMP) for erosion prevention and sediment control.

This VORS 2021 session provides a brief overview of compost-based Erosion Prevention and Sediment Control practices, and then goes deeper into application of the BMPS with an extended Q&A with an expert panel.

In addition to the recording of the Soil Builders BMP module, you can also check out the Compost Standards & Specifications session from VORS 2020 and VORS 2019.

Panelists and Video time stamps:

• Natasha Duarte, Introduction to the Soil Builders program starts at 3: 32

• CAV Jamaica Project & Discussion, starts at 14:44

• More Case Studies & Discussion with Jack Eaton, starts at 23:57

• Phosphorus Concerns & Discussion with Mike Carignan, starts at 46:44

• Incorporating compost into projects & discussion with Heather Voisin, starts at 1:00:06

Compost manufacturers nationwide have faced similar challenges like those in the State of Vermont. As the push for greener landscape options, better stormwater management and rising issues with impaired water bodies have grown, composters are at the forefront of solutions. Besides the huge benefits from the act of composting itself, the finished product has unique properties that make it a critical tool in healing soils and our waterways.

In Vermont, there are a number of issues effecting compost producers large and small; issues like quality, standardized testing results, and creating common specifications. Adopting uniform standards would allow the Vermont DOT and DEP to develop statewide options for soil amendment, erosion control practices and general compost uses for planting or turf.

To create greener solutions for soils to protect Lake Champlain, the White River or Furnace Brook, a universal compost language is needed. A tool like the United States Composting Council Seal of Testing Assurance (STA) Program can help build options and data to study trends in finished compost parameters, allowing Vermont to tailor specifications to meet market-available products.

If composters continue to lead the way on sustainable solutions to protect soil and water, but without nationwide scientific-based standards, obstacles will stop end users from adopting these greener solutions.

This 2020 VORS webinar discusses challenges and potential solutions to promoting compost practices for stormwater management.

Panelists:

• Kevin Burke, ANR DEC Stormwater Program

• Chuck Duprey, Naturcycle

• Dan Goossen, Green Mountain Compost, CSWD

• Heather Voisin, Vermont Agency of Transportation

Facilitator: Marc Companion, Lake Champlain Sea Grant; ANR DEC

Video time stamps and Slide decks:

• Introduction to the session: 1:27

• Dan Goossen: 6:33 (slide deck)

• Heather Voisin: 15:03 (slide deck)

• Kevin Burke: 24:03 (slide deck)

• 1st Q&A: 36:15

• Chuck Duprey: 42:24 (slide deck)

• 2nd Q&A 1:02:32